Halakha Ulangan 10:18: Mishneh Torah, Human Dispositions & Sefer Chasidim

The love for the proselyte, who came and embraced the protection beneath the wings of the Shekinah, rests upon two mandatory commandments, one because he is included in the commandment concerning a neighbor, and the other because he is a stranger, and the Torah charged us, saying: "Love ye therefore the stranger" (Deut. 10.19.). He commanded on the love for the stranger as He commanded concerning the love for Himself, saying: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God" (Ibid. 6.5.). The Holy One, blessed is He! loves the strangers Himself, even as it is said: "And (He) loveth the stranger" (Ibid. 10.18).⁴Baba Mezi’a, 59b. G.

“Love ye therefore the stranger” (Deut. 10:19). We are enjoined to love the individual who enters under the wings of the Divine Glory¹The proselyte. in order to fulfill all the commandments of the Torah. In thirty-six places the Torah cautioned us concerning love for the proselyte, not to wrong them²Baba Metzia 59b. either monetarily or through words. Greater is their love and more precious are they before God than His love for Israel.³Midrash Rabbah, ed. Horeb, Numbers, Chapter VIII, p. 43; also Mid-rash Tanhuma, ed. Horeb, Lech L’cho, p. 52. It is a parable of two people, one man loves the king and the other, the king loves him. Who is worthier? Surely, he whom the king loves. And thus is it comparable, Israel loves the Holy One, blessed be He, and the Holy One, blessed be He, loves the proselyte, for it is written, “And loveth the stranger, giving him food and raiment” (Deut. 10:18). For this reason it is incumbent upon us to love those whom the kings loves, and it is therefore written, “Love ye therefore the proselyte.”